1528 to Present

American Muslim Pathways

Discover the history of Muslims in America, from their African kingdoms of origin until today. Presented by leading scholars in the humanities.

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A black-and-white portrait of Malcolm X in a suit, tie, and glasses after his pilgrimage to Mecca.
A photograph of a group of Muslim volunteers serving meals at a refugee help center.
A photograph of The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. It is a Moorish Revival-style building with a brick foundation; its facades are adorned almost entirely in yellow, gold, and red murals made of real ears of corn. Its two front pillars resemble stalks of the grain. The marquee reads "SOUTH DAKOTA, STAY & PLAY".
A black-and-white photo of a member of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, standing in front of the Garvey Club UNIA office in New York City.
A photograph of attendees to the 53rd Annual Convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) speaking with Jeh Johnson, former Secretary of Homeland Security.
A color photograph of the Masjid Wali Muhammad Mosque, which once served as Temple No. 1 for the Nation of Islam in the city before 1975; after the death of Elijah Muhammad, the congregation converted to Sunni Islam.
A photograph of the exterior of the Mother Mosque of America, one of the oldest mosques in the United States, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The building is a modest, single-story structure with a white facade, a small green dome on top, and a green portico which reads "Islamic Cultural & Heritage Center" in white text.
A photograph of dozens of Muslims praying in the street in the Deira neighborhood of Dubai, where rows of worshippers are bowing in unison. Behind the group is the urban cityscape, and parked cars are packed tightly on each side of them.
A black-and white photo of Ahmed Abdul-Malik performing with Calo Scott and Bilal Abdurahman. Abdul-Malik is playing the oud, which along with the double bass was his signature instrument. He is wearing a suit-and-tie, just as his bandmates, as well as a cool pair of shades. A curtain backdrops the performance.
A beige map of US Interstate Systems.
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5 Key Theme Areas

Begin Your Journey

Engage with timelines, interact with historical figures, and enjoy rare archival photos.
Conclude your adventure by testing your knowledge with our quiz.

Overview
Key Figures
Timeline
Quiz

Muslims of Early America

A portrait of Omar ibn Said, a Fula and Islamic scholar from the Imamate of Futa Toro in West Africa. He holds a cane in his right hand and rests his left arm on an ornate newel. The portrait is a restored and colorized ambrotype.
Overview
Key Figures
Timeline
Quiz

American Muslim Revival

A sepia-toned grand portrait of over 100 delegates to the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, with half seated at the floor turned into the middle and the other half seated on stage toward the camera. Behind the stage, a sign lists the session's featured speakers. The diversity of religions trends represented in this novel interfaith organization - Jainism, Proetstantism, Zen, Judaism, Theravada, Islam, Hinduism, and more - are plainly apparent in the wide variety of different styles of robes, vestments, and other clerical or ceremonial attire.
Overview
Mosques
Timeline
Quiz

Building Foundations While on the Move

A hand-colored lithograph of "Iranistan," an "oriental" ville commissioned by P.T. Barnum and designed by Leopold Eidlitz. It was built near Bridgeport, Connecticut with Moorish, Turkish, and Byzantine design elements. It stood less than 10 years before burning down.
Overview
Key Figures
Timeline
Quiz

The Making of an American Muslim Practice

A photograph of Black Muslim women, all wearing white, applauding Elijah Muhummad during his annual Savior's Day address.
Overview
Quiz

Contemporary American Muslim Life

A photograph of a group of Muslim volunteers serving meals at a refugee help center, with a smiling hijabi woman in the foreground.
A logo for the Unity Productions Foundation's three-part documentary series, "The Great American Muslim Road Trip." The logo is shaped like a badge, set against a black background. The badge features the title of the series features prominently, with a backdrop of a scenic desert highway under a golden sky.

The Great American Muslim Road Trip

Take a tour of Route 66 and discover the history of American Muslims in the US Heartland!

Take a Tour
A beige map of US Interstate Systems.
In depth Stories

Pathways Stories

Our scholars offer podcast-style Stories on the people who built American Muslim culture.

Podcast
15 min
A colorful photograph of the album cover for "Drum Suite" from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The cover has a vintage, mid-20th-century design style, matching the jazz era it represents. It features a variety of traditional African mask styles set against a bright red background.

The Origins of Muslim Jazz Music

Learn about the forgotten Muslim contributions to early jazz music featuring Dr. Nathan Lean, author of a forthcoming book on the history of Muslim jazz musicians.

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Podcast
53 min
A grainy black-and-white photo of Chicago's "Midway Plaisance" during the World Columbian Exposition of 1893. This exposition featured the world's first Ferris Wheel, which provided the photographer a striking aerial vantage point to capture the unique cityscape and dozens of fairgoers below.

America's First Mosque

In the 1920s, Muslim workers from around the world teamed up to build America's first mosque at the Ford Motor Mosque.

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Podcast
22 min
A high-contrast, vibrant watercolor painting depicting 12 slaves of different ages and genders on a Coosaw River plantation. They are dancing and making music together. There is a curious interplay of seemingly contradictory cultural motifs - the slaves are dressed in the common attire of 18th century working-class America, playing banjo, and using European-style glass- and stoneware, while also utilizing traditional African gourd instruments, wearing headscarves, and forgoing footwear.

How Islam Influenced Blues Music

Blues music is an American staple. In this Story, Dr. Sylviane Diouf describes the Islamic connection to the blues.

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